Italy Releases Iranian Engineer Mohammad Abedini

Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian engineer, was released from an Italian prison after Justice Minister Carlo Nordio intervened to halt his extradition to the U.S., citing insufficient legal grounds for the charges against him. Abedini had been arrested in December on a U.S. warrant related to allegations of supplying drone parts for an attack that killed three U.S. service members. The Italian government denied any connection between Abedini's case and the recent detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran, though many speculate a diplomatic agreement was reached for her release. The Italian Justice Ministry confirmed that the alleged U.S. charges did not correspond to any crimes recognized under Italian law. Abedini's lawyer praised the decision as a victory for personal freedom and the rule of law. The case has drawn significant international attention and highlighted complex geopolitical dynamics between Italy, the U.S., and Iran.